Air conditioning apparatus



w. 1 FLEISHER 2,139,675

AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUSl Filed Aug. l5, 1936 Halterung' INVNTOR, IAS

Patented Dec. 13, 193e UNITED STATESv I anatre PATENT oFFica .l

` AIR CONDITIONING APPARATUS Walter L. Fleisher, New Ytrk, N. Y. "Application August 15, 1936, Serial No. 96,199

s claims. (c1. 18s-45) This invention relates to air conditioning apparatus and is a continuation-impart of applicants copending application Serial No. 8,603', filed February 28, 1935, now matured into Patent No.

2,054,809, issued September 22, 1936, and Serial No. 65,315, filed February 24, 1936.

The inventions disclosed in said copending applications utilize bundles of straight, substantially parallel laments or fibres of non-absorbent,

l@ nonhygroscopic, non-corrodible, smooth-surfaced material, preferably oriented capillary glass threads.' Each filament is relatively long compared to its thickness, the diameter of the filaments being so small that the bundle forms a great number of very ne, smooth, frictionless passages between the libres, of substantially uniform cross-section. The surfaces of the filaments are neither lWater repellent nor absorptive, or water occluding. They are easily wetted and water is readily conducted therealongl y The' vast surface provided by the filaments insures intimate contact between water iiowing thereal'ong and air drawn therebetween under the influence of a ian or the like. The air picks up water vapor and approaches saturation at its initial wet bulb temperature, so that the dry bulb temperature of air leaving the apparatus is substantially below the entering dry bulb.

w The filaments are exceedingly i'lne and-occupy but a small percentage of the total cross-sectional area of a container or the like in which they are positioned. Thus, in a container having a crosssectional area of 400 square inches, the total cross-sectional area of the threads may be approximately 3 square inches. The threads, therefore, are spaced from each other, the space be- V tween the threads constituting passage space for air and Water. It is of the utmost importance o that the threads be maintained in spaced relation,

to prevent undue restriction of the air and water passages and to prevent bypassing of airaround the iilaments, regardless ofthe position, Whether horizontal or vertical, in which the threads are 45 utilized and regardless of jarring, in handling 'or in transit, of assembled units in which the threads are placed.

While it is desirable to have at least a majority of the capillary threads running substantially 50 vertically (assuming a vertical air flow) and parallel to each other, it is desirable to have some of the capillary threads inclined at an angle `to the vertical. These 'inclined threads are distributed throughout the container.

The contact `55 between the inclined threads and the vertical threads gives rise to a frictional resistance which tends to hold the vertical filaments in desired spaced relation. The vertical threads are more eiiicient than the inclined threads in effecting the humidication of air; and -the desirability of 5 maintaining a high humidiiication efficiency mitigates against the use of a suflicient nuniber of inclined threads securely to hold the vertical threads in position when they are unduly shaken or jarred in handling or transit. Hence, additional means .for securing the threads in position must be provided in order to insure the safe transit of assembled capillary thread units or cells.

The object of the present invention is to prol5 A feature of the invention resides in securing capillary threads in substantially iixed position in a conning basket, or the like, by providing lacing means extending through and between the capiilary threads. i

Another feature of the invention resides in securing substantially parallel capillary threads in substantially fixed position in a conning basket, by providing a plurality of other capillary threads inclined with respect to and in frictional engagement with said first-mentioned capillary threads.

Another feature ofthe invention resides in positioning oriented capillary threads of glass or thelike within a conilning container and securing the threads in substantially xed position by lacing means secured to the container, at least a portion of said lacing means extending between the filaments at an angle to the axes of said filaments.

Another feature of the invention resides in positioning oriented capillary threads of glass or the like within a conning container, and securing the threads in substantially iixed `position by means of lacing extending between the capillary threads, the lacing being arranged symmetrically to prevent the. threads from shifting, regardless ot changes in the positionof the container.

Another 'feature of the invention' resides in securing capillary threads inr substantially xed position in a coniining containerror the like by providing lacing means extending betweenk the 30 matter, such as cotton lint or the like, from air vertical strands 25 threads, said lacing means being arranged to give maximum support to the threads proximate the center of the container.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more apparent from the following description to be read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view, partly broken a'way, of a capillary cell or basket in connection with which the invention is adapted to be employed;

Fig. 2Vdiagrammatically illustrates one type of lacing arrangement adapted to carry out the invention; and

Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the cell of Fig. l.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Fig. l, 20 designates a basket or casing having openings at its upper and lower extremities to provide for the passage through the basket of air and liquid. A coarse net 2|, -of wire or the like, covers the opening at the upper extremity of casing 20 and a. coarse net 22, of wire or the like, covers the opening at the lower extremity of casing 20. Supported by the screen 2i is a layer 23 of horizontally disposed capillary threads, and supported by screen 22 is a layer 24 of horizontally vdisposed capillary threads. Between horizontal layer 24 and screen 2| are positioned vertical capillary threads 25. The layer` 23 served to remove large particles of foreign entering the basket, thus to prevent clogging of the passages between threads 25. Layer 24 serves to collect water from the ends of the vertical threads 25 and to cause the agglomeration of such water into drops of such size and weight that they are not entrained by air passing from the container, so that no eliminators are required in connection with the apparatus.

A preferred lacing arrangement for preventing the threads 25 from shifting and packing, is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 2. A lacing 26, of stout cord or any other material which is flexible and strong, is iirmlysecured to screen 2| at any desired point, such as, for example,.the point I in the forward right hand portion of screen 2l. By means of va long firm needle of any desired type, lacing cord 26 is run diagonally through the (not shown) to point 2, at the center of screen 22. The cord 26 is looped around the screen 22 at point 2 and is then run diagonally through the threads 25 to point 3 in the rearward right hand portion of screen 2|. Cord 26 is Y' ing is done by means of a single continuous iflooped about the screen 2| and then run vertically :downwardly to point l in the rearward right hand portion of screen 22. Inrsubstantially the same manner, the lacing cord 26 is successively routed through points 5|3 inclusive, the. last point, I3, coinciding with the starting point .at whih'the cord 26 is firmly secured.

In a preferred form roi the invention, the laccord, immovably secured only at `its extremities. .This

arrangement is preferred because it permits over, the' greatest support equalization of load between the various passes of I the lacing.V If desired, however, a Aplurality of separate and/or separately fastened lacing sec.-

tions may be used instead.

The arrangement illustrated in Fig. 2 provides symmetricalbracing and retaining means proximate the central portion of the cell, the Ylacing 26 defining the outline of an octahedron. Thus, no matter which way the basket is turned, the threads 25 will be equally well `supported. Morewill be applied to the center of the mass of verticalthreads 25, where it is most needed. y

If the lacing 26 is very tightly strung between the screen 2| and the screen 22, shifting of the threads 25 will be minimized, but even when lacing 26 is not verytightly strung, but has some slack, the threads 25 will be prevented from shifting suillciently to impair operation of any air conditioning apparatus in which the basket is employed. Moreover, the threads 25 will not be drawn together by the lacing 26, but will be maintained in proper spaced relation.

While the geometrical gure formed by the lacing 26 in the center of the basket preferably takes the form of two opposed four-sided pyramids having coinciding bases, it will be apparent that the lacing may be arranged to form symmetrical figures having different shapes, without departing from the scope ofthe invention. If desired, of course, a non-symmetrical lacing arrangement may be employed.

Fig. 3 illustrates the manner in which the diagonal strands 25a are positioned within the casing 20, th'ese strands being intermXed-with and in frictional contact with the vertical strands 25. As explained in applicants pending applications, the parallelism of strands 25 is of considerable importance in providing the proper conditioning of air passing through the cell. By positioning strands 25a more or less parallel to each other, these air-conditioning benefits of parallel thread arrangement may, to

above-identified coa substantial degree, be retained; thus, the inl tical and inclined strands touch each other, but

this action is not undesirable, since it creates turbulence which helps to clean the air. It is to be understood, of course, that a considerable portion ofthe strands, preferably at least half of them, should be vertical, to provide efficient humidification of theair.

Although the Vinvention is preferably practiced as above described, itis to be understood that the foregoing descriptionand accompanying drawing are illustrative only, ,and that many variations thereof may be made within the purview of the invention; and any arrangement in which oriented capillarythreads are prevented from shifting and packing by meansv of lacing, other capillarythreads, or the like, extending through and/or between the threads, parallel to and/or at an angle thereto, is deemed within the purview ofthe invention. Y

I claim: I

1. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing containing a plurality of oriented capillary threads, retaining means at oppositeends of said threads, .and bracing means extending between said threads -and secured to said retaining means, to preventshifting of said threads with respect to the sides ofsaid casing, said bracing means being arranged in the outlineof a symmetricalgeometric iigure proximate the center of said casing.`

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a. plurality of oriented capillary threads, retaining means at opposite ends of said threads, and lacing means` extending between said threads and connecting said retaining means in a plurality of passes, at least some ofthe passes being nonparallel to the axes of said threads, said ypasses comprising different sections' oi a continuous lacing means.

3.' In an apparatus of the character described, a plurality of oriented capillary threads and lacing means extending between said threadsfin a plurality of passes for preventing packing and shitting of said threads, certain oi'said passes being slopingly arranged to i'orm the 'outline of an octahedron.

4. In an apparatus or the character described' a plurality of oriented capillary threads and lacing means extending between said threads in a plurality oi passes for preventing packing and shifting oi' said threads, certain of said passes being substantially vertical and other oi said passes being slcpingly arranged to iorm the outline oi an octahedron.

5. In an apparatus o! the character'A described,

v a plurality of oriented capiliarythreads, retaining means at opposite ends o! said threads. and means for preventing transverse sluiting and packing of said capillary threads, said last-mentioned means including lacing means extending between said threads and connecting said retaining means in a plurality of passes, at least some of the passes being non-parallel to the axes oi, said threads, at least some of said passes corn-I prlsing different sections of a continuous lacing means. A

8. In an apparatus of the character described. a casing having a pair o! openings at opposite sides thereof, a plurality oi' oriented capillary threads disposed within said casing, said threads being arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the direction between said openings, retaining means nxedly arranged at opposite ends of said threads, and lacing means extending between said threads and connecting said retaining means in a plurality of passes, at least some of the passes being non-parallel to the axes of said threads, at least some of said passes comprising diderent sections of a continuous lacing means.`

7. In an apparatus oi the character described, a casing having a pair oi openings at opposite sides" thereof, a plurality of oriented capillary threads disposed within said casing, said threads being arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the direction between said openings, retaining means ilxedly arranged at opposite ends of said threads, and lacing means connecting said retaining means in a plurality oi passes extendingy between said threads and substantially throughout the interior of said casing, at least some ci.

the passes being non-parallel to the axes of said threads, said passes comprising diierent sections of a continuous lacing means.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, a casing having a pair oi' openings at opposite sides thereof, a plurality of oriented capillary threads disposed within said-casing, said threads vbeing arranged in a direction substantially parallel to the direction between said openings, re-

taining means yfixedly arranged at opposite ends 

